Janto guilty of
killing Wahiawa walker

He had confessed that
he killed Bongak Koja after
days taking 'ice'

By Linda Hosek
Star-Bulletin

A jury today convicted Frank Charles Janto of second-degree murder in the death of Bongak "Jackie" Koja, who was killed during an early morning walk in Wahiawa on June 9, 1997.

City Prosecutor Peter Carlisle shook hands with Koja's husband, James, while Janto held his head and looked down.

"I'm happy with the verdict," James Koja said, but added that the impact of his wife's brutal beating will never end.

In a taped confession to police, Janto said he had smoked crystal methamphetamine for three days before running into Bongak Koja near a bus stop in front of Leilehua High School at 3:45 a.m.

He said he tried to joke with her about the dangers of walking alone in the early morning hours but became angry when she sprayed him with pepper spray.

Janto, 34, said he punched her, chased her toward the school, rammed her head into the pavement and buried her under rubbish in a Dumpster behind the cafeteria.

William Bento, deputy public defender, had argued for the lesser offense of manslaughter, saying his client lost control and never intended to kill Koja.

He said the appellate section of his office would decide whether to appeal.

Carlisle said he was extremely pleased with the verdict, but said he would use the case as an example to try to change the murder law and rules governing evidence.

He said the murder law should focus on the defendant's action -- not on whether the defendant acted knowingly or intentionally.

The jury's first question asked the court to clarify how someone can act "knowingly" in a rage.

Janto faces a life prison term with parole when he is sentenced April 27 before Circuit Judge James R. Aiona Jr.